Mechanical baseball game



Aug. '13, 1929. D, w, STOKES 1,724,860

MECHANI CAL BASEBALL GAME -File March 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwuento o Aug. 13, 1929. D. w. STOKES 4 1,724,860

MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed March 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 741 4 m Mll an T e I e '53 IEGF Smut V 7 A ....m! In"... ,zznzstohea Aug. 13, 1929. D. w. STOKES 1,724,860

MECHANI CAL BASEBALL GAME Filed March 6, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 J7 m1 2 BASE HIT J CLEARO BASES .D- W abokea Patented Aug. 13, 1929,

UNITED STATES DURETT W. STOKES, F ORANGE PARK, FLORIDA.

MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME.

Application filed March 6, 192a.' Serial No. 259,539.

This invention is a game to be played upon a table and will simulate allthe plays possible in a game of outdoor baseball. The invention has for its object the provision of simple means whereby a ball may be delivered to a batter in the same manner that a baseball pitcher delivers the ball in an actual game, and a further object is to provide a novel vform of bat which may be manipulated to meet the ball directly over the plate or in advance of the plate or at the rear of the same as may be mostdesirable in the judgment of the player. The

invention also has for its object the provision of devices which may be placed in 'fielders positions and readily shifted in the same manner that actual fielders shift their position in the progress of a game, and a further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the ball delivered to the batter may be deflected from a straight course so that all of the curves and shoots imparted to the ball in actual play may be imitated. The elements employed will bear various legends indicating plays which may arise in the course of a game, and 1 also provide means whereby the game may be played as though either a right handed or a left handed pitcher was performing and also as though either a left handed batsman or a right handed batsman -was performing. These various objects, and other objects which will incidentally appear in the course of the following description, are attained in such an apparatus as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a game board constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fi 3 is an enlargeddetail sectionof the line 33 0f Fig. 1';

Fig. at is a detail section on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the bat audits mount which are employed;

F 1g. 8 is a detail section on the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail perspective of one of the devices which represents a fielder;

Fig. 10 is a detail sect-ion illustrating another form of pitcher;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional elevation of a portion of the rail which is provided at the edge of the game board, and

Fig. 12 is a detail View illustrating markers which may be employed to represent base runners.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a board 1 which is preferably of rectangular outline and may be mounted upon legs or provided with a flat bottom surface whereby it may rest upon an ordinary table. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the board has marked upon its upper surface a representation of a baseball diamond, as shown at 2, and lines 3 representing the usual foul lines. Around that portion of the board which contains the representation of a playing field, I secure a rail 4 which may represent the fence or wall generally surroundinga baseball field. Extending parallel with the foul lines 3 are rails 5 which converge toward the catchers position and near the catchers position these innor walls or rails carry inwardly 'projeotin plates 6 which may represent the players dugouts and also serve as covers for certain elements employed in playingthe game with the apparatus so that the .position of these elements may be varied by the out team without being observed "b the player representing the in team. pon referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the rails 5 meet the back rail 4 in rear of the home plate, indicated at 7, and the covers 6 extend close to the said back wall or rail. Extending between the rear ends of the said plates 6 is a rod 8 upon which is suspended a light plate '9 which may swing freely, the said plate, however, being of less length than the rod. It is intended that in the laying of a game the ball which may pass the bat will strike the suspended plate-9 and swing the same rearwardly so that the 'ball will Clear the plate and rebounding from the back proximately the same relation to the home plate as the batsmans box in the actual game of baseball is located, I provide longitudinal slots in the base board 1, and on the upper side of the game board is placed a rim 11 preferably of metal so as to reinforce the Walls of the slots and minimize the wear upon the board through possible contact of the bat therewith. Supported upon a shelf or other element, indicated at 12, below the board 1 is a block 13 from which rises a pin 14 which passes upwardly through the slot 10,-as shown clearly in Figs. 6and 7. These pins or posts 14 are intended to furnish mounts for the bat and either pin or post is used accordingly as a right handed or left handed batsman is supposed to be at the plate. Fitted over the pin 14 is a tube 15 which is of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the pin so that the tube may turn freely on the pin but will not a "e excessive play. The upper end of the ube 15 carries a head 16 which is preferably spherical in order to impart attractiveness to the apparatus and is formed with a diametric opening therethrough, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 7. Fitted through the opening in the head 16 so as to slide and rock therein is a rod 17 which carries at its inner end a club or striker 18 which is given the same shape as the bat employed in the game of baseball. The outer end of the rod 17 is provided with a handle portion 19 which may be a cylindrical piece of wood fitted on the end of the rod or may be an integral enlargement of the rod or otherwise constructed, as may be desirable. This handle portion projects over the adjacent cover plate 6 and is disposed above the same so that it may be freely manipulated without contactwithsaid cover. The striker element 18 is fixed rigidly to the inner end of the rod and is disposed obliquely so that it will depend to a point near the surface of the board 1 in position to strike a ball delivered by the pitcher and propel the ball over the field. Inasmuch as the rod 17 is rotatably andslidably fitted in the head 16, the player representing the batsman may 7 shift the bat so that it will work at either edge of the home plate and by rocking the rod the bat will be swung forwardly to impinge against the ball and propel the same outoverthe playing field. Inasmuch as the sleeve 15 which supports the bat may turn freely about the pin 14, the bat may be shiftedfto a point at the front of the home plate to meetthe delivered ball before it actually reaches the plate or it may be swung rearwardly and thereby delay the impact upon the ball. It will thus be seen that the bat may be manipulated in all the various ways that a skillful batsman performs in an actual game and the ball may be thereby directed toward either the right or the left field or may be hunted or driven forcibly according to the judgment and experience of the player manipulating the bat.

Approximately at the center of the diamond 2 is located an element representing the pitcher. This element consists of a block or body 20 which may be of wood and is provided with a vertical opening therethrough of rectangular form whereby it may fit upon the upper rectangular portion of a post 21 which is rotatably fitted in the game board 1, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The element which will be called the pitcher is shown in Fig. 1 as arranged to represent a right handed pitcher but by reason of the angular formation of the opening therethrough and the corresponding angular formation of the supporting pivot post it may be easily shifted to represent a left handed pitcher. To aocomplish this result, the retaining nut or cap 22 is removed from the upper extremity of the post, the pitcher lifted therefrom and then swung through an arc of ninety degrees to be again fitted on the post and assume a position at a right angle to that illustrated in Fig. 1. A thin metal cover 23 is secured around the vertical sides and rear edges of the body 20 and also has a portion bearing against the bottom of the block, as indicated at 24, this bottom portion 24 resting on the shoulder 25 of the post so that it will be held out of contact with the board 1 and, consequently, will avoid wear upon which the ball 27 may rest, and it may be here noted that the ball may be a marble or other spherical object. The side portions of the cover 23 also project beyond the sides of the block 20 and beyond the shelf 26, as shown at 28, these side wings being curved somewhat, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, whereby they have a flared effect. lVhen the pitcher is actuated, as will be presently de-' scribed, the ball tends to roll along the inner surface of the adjacent wing 28 and thereby acquires a slight twist which will cause it to frequently naturally curve as it progresses toward the home plate and thereby simulate a curved pitch. The flared wings 28 also serve as deflectors as frequently the ball when struck by the bat will be driven directly toward the pitcher and will impinge upon one or the other of said wings and be thereby deflected toward either first or third base in the. same manner that a play frequently occurs in an actual game. Before the ball is delivered, it rests upon the shelf 26 in the angle defined by the straight edge of the block and the adjacent wing 28, as shown in Fig. 1. If the post 21 be then rotated about its vertical axis, the ball will be obviously thrown from its shown and described position through centrifugal force and will be driven toward the home plate. To rock or turn the post and thereby deliver the ball to the batsman, I provide means which I will now describe. Secured firmly to the lower end of the post is a crosshead 29 and to the ends of said crosshead are attached wires or light rods 30 which extend longitudinally under the board and under that portion of the rail 4 which represents the out-field to be attached to a similar crosshead or rocking bar 31 carried by a post 32 mounted in an extension of the game board outside of the rail 4, as will be understood upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2. A contractile spring 33 is attached to one end of this rocking bar 31 and to the rail 4 and is placed under such tension as to normally hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. If the rocking bar 31 be actuated so that that end which is the right hand end in Fig. 1 be moved in a direction away from the rail 4, a like movement will be imparted to the pitcher thereby simulating the motions of an actual pitcher in his effort to prevent the batsman from watching the ball as it begins its flight from the pitchers hand. This manipulation of the rocking bar 31, of course, increases the tension upon the spring 33 and if the bar be released the spring will at once contract so that the pitcher will be quickly swung in a horizontal plane and the ball thrown toward the home plate, as previously stated. The rocking bar 31 is, of course, to be manipulated by the player representing the out team or the team which is in the field, and in order that the extent of movement imparted thereto by the player may not be seen by the opposing player, a screen 34 is erected upon the adjacent portion of the rail 4, as shown in Fig. 3. By varying the extent of movement of the rocking arm 31, the ball may be delivered as a fastball or as a slow ball and at various degrees of speed. In order 'to check the movement of the pitcher at various points in the are described by it so that the speed and direction of the ball may be controlled, I provide a stop plate 35 which is slidably mounted on the extension 36 of the board land presents an inclined edge 37 to one end of the rocking bar. The said check plate 1s held in *place by a set screw 38 inserted through a slot 39 therein into the board extension 36, and it is provided with a lateral extension 40 having a rack 41 formed on one edge to mesh ingly.

with a pinion 41 on the lower'end of a shaft 42 which is equipped with a thumb wheel 43 at its upper end. By turning the shaft 42, the rack 41 will be moved transversely of the board and the inclined edge 37 consequently shifted toward or from the rocking bar 31. \Vhen it is shifted toward the bar, the end of the bar will impinge againstthe check plate sooner than it impinges when the check plate is moved from the bar and a slow or a fast ball will be delivered accord- The connections 30 between the pitcher and the actuating rocking bar 31 are shown as being parallel, but it will be understood that, when the pitcher is changed to a left handed deliverer, these connections will be crossed so that the proper movements will be obtained. It is possible to accommodate the apparatus to a left handed pitcher without crossing the connections 30 by shifting the spring 33 to the opposite side of the center and also by reversing the check plate and shifting the gear for manipulating the check plate.

As before stated, the ball has a tendency to roll along the projecting wing 28 as the pitcher swings through its delivery motion and this sometimes imparts a slight curve to the pitch, but I do not rely upon this action to accomplish the desired diversion of the ball from a straight path, the most general delivery being in a straight line and by checking the delivery motion at more or less advanced stages in its progress, as described, the ball can be directed toward the center of the plate or toward either side thereof just as a professional player attempts to cut the corners of the plate. I provide means, however, whereby the ball may be diverted from a straight path and caused to follow a wide curve or a sharp break and to this end there are provided, under the cover plate 6, blocks or boxes 44 which are fixed in place and have openings in their inner sides whereby a current of air may be directed toward the path of the ball, it being noted that the blocks 44 are arranged directly back of the batsmans position. A tube 45 is fitted in each block 44 which is fixed in place, and a hose or flexible tube 46 is fitted to the lower end of each pipe 45 and extends under the board to a wind chest 47 which is provided back of the check plate 35, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The wind chests are provided in duplicate and the outlet blocks 44 are also provided in duplicate so that the air currents may be directed toward the home plate from either side of the device, as will be understood. A second box 48 is provided at the end of the gate or swinging plate 9 under the extreme and this third box is mounted in a slot 51 in the board 1 and provided on its sides with overhanging flanges or shoulders 52 whereby it will be supported on the board. The shank of this air box extends through the slot 51 and is secured to a bar 53 extending under the game board and beyond the wall 4, its end, indicated at 54:, being slidably mounted in said wall over the extension 26 whereby it may be easily shifted as may be desired. A flexible conduit 55 is supported by the slidable bar 53 and is adapted to connect the air box 50 with'the respective wind chest 47. Of course, the several conduits or flexible tubes may extend uninterruptedly between the wind chests and the respective air boxes but inasmuch as the results would then always be the same and the batsman would be able to govern the swing of the bat accordingly, I form these flexible conduits in two sections, the longer sections, which are disposed under the game board, being fitted at their ends to short pipes 56 extending through the adjacent rail 4. The outer shorter sections are selectively engageable over the outer ends of these pipes 56 or over bosses or lugs 57 provided therefor on the outer side of the adjacent rail 4, as shown in Fig. 3. If the outer sections of these flexible conveyers be engaged over the outer ends of the pipes, the air blasts will be delivered to the respective air boxes but if they be engaged over the bosses or lugs 57 the said lugs and the adjacent surface of the rail 1 will constitute closures so that the air blast will not pass to the corresponding air box. In this manner the player representing the out team may vary the delivery of the air blast and may cause it to be discharged toward the ball from the box 48, the box 14 or the box 50, as may be preferred, and may direct it simultaneously from any two of them, the volume and direction of the blast being thereby controlled so that the desired efi'ect upon the ball will be obtained. 6 The forward air box 50 may be easily shifted along the slot 51 by manipulation of the bar 53 carrying the same and, consequently, may be caused to direct an air current onto the ball at a greater or less distance in front of .the plate. The air blast may be delivered by any convenient means, such as a bellows 58, arranged adjacent the device so that it may be manipulated by either the hand or the foot of the player, the bellows being connected to the wind chest by a flexible tube fitted over a nozzle, as 59, projecting therefrom and, of course, the tube may be fitted to the nozzle of either chest, as circumstances may require. I also contemplate providing means whereby the rocking bar 31 may be actuated simultaneously with the bellows and such means may conveniently consist of a cord or cable 60 attached to one end of said bar and passing over a guide 61 to be attached to the bellows. As this arrangement, however, limits the play and eliminates the judgment of the operator in manipulating the pitcher, I prefer to dispense with the same in actual use.

lVhile I prefer to employ a pitcher which is mechanically operated, as previously described, the pitcher may be constructed to propel the ball by an air blast, and in Fig. 10 I have illustrated such construction. In

this form, the solid block 20 is not used and in place thereof I provide a box 62 having an outlet opening 63 in its front wall and having its post 6 1 hollow so that the air tube 65 may be connected therewith to supply an air blast thereto, the air tube 65 being, of course, connected with the bellows or with one of the wind chests 4:7. The pitcher is otherwise of the same construction as that first described, and it may be set at a desired angle either manually or mechanically but the ball is placed over the outlet opening 63 and is ejected by the force of the air blast.

The apparatus includes elements representing fielders, one of which is shown in Fig. 9, and which may be placed at the proper positions in the field corresponding to the positions occupied by fielders in'the outdoor game of baseball. These devices comprise a block 66 having a bottom plate extended beyond one side of the block, as shown at 67, and the vertical sides of the block are preferably divergent toward the said projecting shelf 67, side plates 68 being secured to the said divergent sides of the block. As shown clearly in Fig. 9, the side plates 68 are cut away vertically so as to present overhanging portions 69 which, when the device is in position, will be spaced above the playing field and the lower portions of these side plates are turned outwardly, as shown at 70, to, constitute wings or deflectors which may divert the course of the batted ball traveling over, the playing field. In the upper forward corners of the portions 69 is mounted a rod 71 having a plate 72 suspended thereon for free oscillation, a stop rod 73 being secured in and extending between said overhanging portions 69 at the outer side ofthe plate 72 so that while the said plate may swing inwardly toward the block 66 its outward swinging movement will be prevented. Should a batted ball roll against the plate 72, the plate will swing toward the block 66 to permit the ball to pass and, once it clears the ball, will return to its vertical position so that the ball will then be trapped, and such action will constitute an out for the fielder. The shelf 67 may have legends marked thereon indicating plays generally made by a'player in the game and the scoring of the game may be entered accordingly as the ball comes to rest other of thesev legends. Examples of such legends are Sac indicating a sacrifice play; Double indicating that the fielder participates in a double play, or Out indicating that the fielder has put out the batsman without assistance. These devices repre-. senting fielders are not secured to the game board but merely rest thereon and are freely shift-able thereover so that the operator representing theout team may shift any of the fielders accordingly as he anticipates the direction in which the ball will be batted. Should the ball be struck by the bat and propelled along such lines that it will not enter an one of the player devices, the batsman wil be credited with a safe hit and variety may be imparted to the play by placing upon the rail 4 legends, such as shown in Fig. 11, indicating that the batsman is entitled to a one base hit, atwo base hit or a three base hit accordingly as the ball comes to rest upon one or another of said legends. I also provide at intervals along the rail 4 projections 7 4 which extend out somewhat over the playing field and have their upper edges inclined downwardly toward the field. Should a batted ball strike one of these projections, it will be caused to rise from the field and will be directed over the rail 4 so that the batsman will be credited with a home run as though he had actually driven the ball over the fence of a baseball field.

When a batsman is credited with a hit, he becomes a base runner and in order that such development may be indicated in the apparatus, I provide markers 75, shown in Fig. 12, which may be placed at the repre sentations of the bases. These markers may be of any approved design and are illus trated as resembling the pawns in the game of chess. Two sets of the markers will, of course, be provided and they will be distinctively colored so as to represent opposin teams.

The game board has spaces between the foul lines 3 and the obliquely disposed rails 5 which, correspond to the foul spaces of an actual baseball field. A ball which is batted into either of these spaces is, of course, a foul ball and must be treated accordingly. In order that a foul may be turned into an out, I provide cages or receptacles 76 Which are fixed to the board within the foul spaces. These cages closely resemble the player devices illustrated in Fig. 9 and consist of a block or body which will impart stability to the device and wings .77 projecting from the body toward the home plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Should a foul ball roll between the wings of any one of these devices, it is scored as an out and the out will be credited to the first or third baseman or to the right or left fielder accordingly as upon one or anthe ball enters. the: cage nearer: the or gearer the; out field at either side of the.

el'd.

It is thought the manner of using the apparatus will be understood from the fore going-description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, andfurther detailed description is unnecessary. \Vith some practice players will become skillet so that the ball may be delivered to the batsman with great proficiency and the batsman may with like proficiency propel the ball over the field any direction. The pitcher is, of course, manipulated byan operator representing the out team who takes his; position behind the center field screen 3.4 and shifts the. several air tube sections, so that the air blast will be delivered to selected air boxes 44, 4-8 or 50. He also adjusts the check plate 371 so that the pitcher mayhave. a longer or shorter swing and he there by, of, course, controls the speed and direc-z tlOIL of the ball as it leaves the pitcher to travel toward the home plate. The air cur-. rent directed through the several air boxes will intercept the ball as it passes. to the home plate and divert it from a straight path. By cutting out any one or more of the air boxes or cutting out'all of them, the pitcher will cause the ball to be intercepted by an air current of a desired intensity and at a pointin front of the home plate and moving across the path to the. plate or met by an air current issuing from a point back of the plate so as to meet the ball more or less uarely. The ball may thus be caused to de ne a slow wide curve or a sharp l'ireaking curve or may be retarded so that it will represent a drop pitch.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. A mechanical baseball game including a representation of a baseball diamond, a ball, a post- 'rotatablymounted at the pitchers position in the diamond, a pitcher constructed to hold the ball and reversible on the post to. simulate right or left hand pitching, and means for imparting mot-ion to the post and checking the motion wherelg' to propel the ball at a desired speed towar' the home plate of the diamond.

2. A mechanical baseball game including a representation of a baseball diamond, a pitcher device mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis and comprising a block, av shelfprojeeting from the lower edge of the block at the side presented toward the home plate of the diamond, a ball adapted to rest on said shelf, wings projecting from the body at the ends oi'the shelf, and means for turning the pitcher device whereby to im el the ball toward the home plate of the iamond. 0

3. A mechanical baseball game comprising a representation of a baseball diamond, a

pitcher device mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis at the pitchers position of the diamond, said pitcher device being constructed to support a ball on its side presented to the home plate of the diamond, a ball to be received by the pitcher device,a rocking bar, operative connections between said rocking bar and the pitcher device, and a check device arranged to cooperate with the rocking bar whereby to arrest turning movement of the pitcher device and impel the ball toward the home plate.

4. A mechanical baseball game including a representation of a baseball diamond, a pitcher device mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis at the pitcher position of the diamond and constructed to receive and support a ball, a ball to be supported by said pitcher device, a rocking bar pivotally mounted between its ends at a point remote: from the pitcher device, operative connections between the said bar and the pitcher device, and an adjustable check plate arranged adjacent to the rocking bar in the path of one end thereof to limit the actuating movement of the said bar.

"5. A mechanical baseball game including a representation of a diamond, a pitcher device pivotally mounted at the pitcher position in'the diamond, a ball to be supported by said pitcher device, a rocking bar pivotally mounted between its ends at a point remote from the pitcher device, operative connections between said bar and the pitcher device, means for forcibly rocking said bar to impart a throwing movement tothe pitcher device, a check plate disposed adjacent the rocking bar and adjustable across a line extending between the pivots of the said bar and the pitcher device and having an oblique edge presented toward one end of said bar.

6. A mechanical baseball game comprising a game board having a representation of a baseball diamond thereon, a pitcher device mounted at the pitcher position of the diamond, a ball to beengaged in the pitcher device,'means for actuating thepi-tcher device whereby to propel the ball toward the homeplate of the diamond, a bat mounted adjacent the home plate, and fielder elements resting on the game, board outside the dia mond and each comprising a block, side plates secured to. the block and diverging toward the diamond, and a gate freely sus pended between the divergent ends of said side plates and having limited movement toward the free ends of said plates.

7. A mechanical baseball game comprising a game boardhaving a representation of a baseball diamond thereon, a pitcher device mounted at the pitcher position of the diamond, a ball to be engaged in the pitcher clevice, means for actuating the pitcher'device to propel the ball toward the home plate of the diamond, a bat mounted adjacent the hp me plate, and fielder devices each comprising a block, a shelf on the side of the block presented toward the diamond and disposed at the bottom ofthe block, side plates secured to the block and diverging toward the diamond and having portions spaced vertically fromthe game board, a gate suspended between the free ends of said vertically spaced portions of the side plates,and a stop device secured in said plates at the side of the gate presented to the diamond.

' S. In a mechanical baseball game, a board bearing a representationof a baseball diamond, a ball, means for propelling the ball over the diamond toward the home plate, and a bat mounted in the board adjacent the home plate and shiftable on a line parallel with the side of the home plate.

9. A mechanical baseball game comprising a game board having a representation of a diamond thereon and provided with a longitudinal slot parallel with the side of the home plate of the diamond, a post slidably supported in said slot, and a bat supported by said post.

10. A mechanical baseball game comprising a game board having a representation of a baseball diamond thereon, a post mounted in the board at the side of the home plate of the diamondand shiftable on a line parallel with the home plate, and a bat fitted over said post and rotatable about the 'vertlcal axis of the post.

11. A mechanical baseball game compr1sing a game board having a representation of a baseball diamond thereon, a post mounted at one side of the home plate of the diamond, and a bat supported by said post and mounted for movement across the post and for ro tation about an axis at a right angle to the vertical axis of the post. j

12. A mechanical baseball game comprlsing a game board having a representation of a baseball diamond thereon, a ball, means for propelling the ball toward the home plate of the diamond, a. post mounted at one side of the home plate, a sleeve'fitted over the post and rotatable about the same, and a bat slldably and rotatably mounted in the upper end of the sleeve.

13. A mechanical baseball game comprising a game board having a representation of a diamond thereon, a post mounted at one side of the home plate of the diamond, a sleeve rotatably fitted on said post, a rod slidably and rotatably mounted in the upper end of the sleeve whereby it may be shifted across the postand rotated about a horizontal axis, and a striker fixed to the inner end of said rod and extending downwardly therefrom toward the home plate.

14:- In a mechanical baseball game, a game board having a representation of a diamond thereon, a ball, means for propelling the ball from the pitcherposition of the diamond toward the home plate thereof, andmeans for directing an air current across the path of the ball from the sides of the diamond to divert the ball from a straight line as it travels toward the home plate.

15. A mechanical baseball game including a game board having a representation of a diamond thereon, a ball, means for propelling the ball from the pitcher position to the home plate of the diamond, air boxes disposed upon the game board at the sides of the diamond, and means for supplying an air blast to said air boxes whereby to intercept the ball as it travels from the pitchers position to the home plate of the diamond.

16. In a mechanical baseball game, a game board having a representation of abaseball diamond thereon, a ball, means for propelling the ball from the pitchers position to the home plate, air boxes disposed at the sides of the diamond, one of said boxes being shiftable in the general direction of the path followed by the ball from the pitchers position to the home plate, and means whereby an air blast may be delivered to selected air boxes.

17. In a mechanical baseball game, a game board having a representation of a diamond thereon, a ball, means for propelling the ball from the pitchers position toward the home plate of the diamond, a rail on the game board, air boxes mounted on the game board at the sides of the diamond, air conduits in communication with the respective air boxes, means for supplying air under pressure to said conduits, the said conduits being formed in sections whereby air may be diverted from selected air boxes by disconnecting the sections, and projections on the rail to be engaged by disconnected sections of the air conduits whereby to avoid waste of air.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DURETT W. STOKES. 

